One of the most important prerequisites for success is to have faith in oneself. If you don't have faith in your own self, you are essentially denying expression to the soul-power that is hidden within you. "Not believing in the glory of our own soul is what Vedanta calls atheism....The old religion said that he was an atheist who did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is an atheist who does not believe in himself," declares Sw„mÓ Vivek„nanda.

Whatever you think is what you are. If you think you are weak and helpless, that is exactly what you are. If you think yourself to be strong, strong you are. No good can possibly come out of a person who thinks himself to be helpless, incompetent or incapable.

The history of the world is the history of a few men and women who had faith in themselves. We cannot blame the sun for not giving us light if we choose to shut the doors and windows in a room and live in darkness. Faith in yourself and faith (shraddh„) in God is the secret of success, happiness, and greatness in this world.